Asia Beauty Spot – Asia Scenery

1. Mt Kinabalu Via Ferrata

The highest point for the via ferrata starts at 3,400 m and ends at 3,800 m. An activity for everyone, the via ferrata is devised to give people with little or no climbing experience access to rock faces normally reached by mountaineers and rock climbers.

Via ferrata (or iron road in Italian), is a mountain path consisting of a series of rungs, rails and cables embracing the rock face. There are more than 300 via ferrata routes around the world and the world’s highest via ferrata, can now be found on Mt Kinabalu in Malaysia.

This is the first time that the sport of via ferrata climbing is being introduced in Asia. The highest point for the via ferrata starts at 3,400 m and ends at 3,800 m. An activity for everyone, the via ferrata is devised to give people with little or no climbing experience access to rock faces normally reached by mountaineers and rock climbers.

There are several requirements to follow the via ferrata activity, including having an average fitness level and able to hike up to 3,200 m in 6 hours; at least 10 years old and 1.3 meters tall, and especially do not have a fear of heights (or willing to conquer their fear of heights!).

This is challenging adventure, and those interested to experience via ferrata on Mt Kinabalu should note that the beginner’s route will let the climber take their first experience along the granite walls of Mt Kinabalu (a journey of about 2- 3 hours).

The intermediate route will let the climber experience a 4 to 5 hours journey, which will reward the climber with a breathtaking view of the heights and sights. Ready to take the challenge? Give via ferrata on Mt Kinabalua try!

2. Pulau Tiga Marine Park

Pulau Tiga is the largest of the three islands that make up Pulau Tiga Park. Its beautiful landscape and unspoilt natural environment has attracted CBS TV Network of the USA to use this island as the main location for the popular ‘Survivor’ Programme, dubbing it the ‘Survivor Island’.

This island was formed through the eruption of several mud volcanoes. The last explosion happened in 1941 and since then the volcanoes have remained relatively passive.

Several small mud volcanoes spewing cool, mineral-rich mud can still be found near the summit of the island. The notion that this mineral rich mud is good for your skin makes mud-bathing a must-do activity on this island.

The island’s lush green jungle serves as a soothing backdrop, while the fine, white sand beaches and the clear unpolluted water are a wonder for nature lovers.

The coral reefs encircling the island are home to many species of fish and other marine life. Among the activities that await you here are diving, non-motorised water sports, trekking, bird watching and mud bathing.

The Park Headquarters is situated on the southern side of the island, not far from Pulau Tiga Resort, the only resort facility available on the island.

3. Rainforest Discovery Centre

The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) situated in Sepilok, Sandakan is a part of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Located in Sabah, the RDC is an environmental education (EE) centre in the state.

Take a walk through the park, or a stroll on wooden the suspension bridge at the 950 metres canopy walk and view countless of exotic wildlife.

Night walks along the trail also offer a chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as the cunning mousedeer, wily civet cats, cute tarsiers and various insects and birds.

There are also many magnificent flowering shrubs a the Plant Discovery Garden, with about 250 species of native orchids. The orchid family, is known to be the largest flowering plants with about 25,000 wild species throughout the world.

Enthusiasts, naturalists, budding scientists and nature lovers from all walks of life will get to know more of the wonders of the rainforests through this unique Rainforest Discovery Centre.

The RDC helps to raise public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources.

4. Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

The Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is a fascinating place where visitors can observe trainers teaching orphaned or displaced Orang Utan apes to climb in their natural habitat. At this rehabilitation centre, captive animals are retrained for life in the jungle.The centre allows a close-up view of these arboreal creatures.

The best time to visit is at 10.00 am and again at 2.30 pm when the primates emerge from the forest for their daily ration of bananas and milk. You can see the orang utans being fed from a platform in the centre. Nicknamed the ‘Wild Man of Borneo’, the orang utans are returned to the forest when they can fend for themselves.

Aside from the orang utan, over 200 species of birds and a variety of wild plants can be found within the 5.666 hectares of forest reserve.

Courtesy of Malaysia Tourism Board

5. Sipadan Island

The late Jacques Cousteau, the world-renowned oceanographer, described Sipadan Island as an untouched piece of art, while divers around the world voted it as one of the top five dive sites in the world.

Malaysias only oceanic island, it is very small only 12ha. in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is required to circle the island on foot. As an oceanic island, it rises about 700 metres from the sea floor, attracting diverse marine life from the blackness of the open sea. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing marine animals.

Declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the Colonial Government of North Borneo and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian Government, the dense vegetation on Sipadan Island supports a large variety of tropical birds which include sea eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth.

When diving here, encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks, bumphead parrotfish and barracudas are almost assured around the tiny coral island.

6. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

The Tunku Abdul Rahman park comprises a group of five islands located only 20 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’s capital. The park is spread over 4,929 hectares, two thirds of which is sea.

The five idyllic islands, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug, Gaya and Sapi have soft white beaches and are teeming with fish and coral, perfect for beginner divers as well as snorkellers and picnickers. Gaya and Sapi Islands also have hiking trails through their pristine jungles.

These islands are home to a variety of flora and fauna, including one of the most intriguing birds, the Megapode or Burung Tambun, a chicken lookalike with large feet and makes a meowing sound like a cat.

Malaysia Sabah Attractions (Part 1)

Courtesy of Malaysia Tourism Board